Log-cradle.



B. H. VOLLANS.

LOG CRADLE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. so, 1911.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 1.

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B. H. lVOLLANS. LOG CRADLE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 30, 1911.

999,277. 4 Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.'

WJTNESSES JNVENTOR narran sfrafrns ramena* ernten.

BERT H. VOLLANS, OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON.

'LOG-CRADLE.

Application led January 30, 1911.

To all whom fit may concern.'

Be it known that I, BERT H. VoLLANs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Everett, county of Snohomish, State of lVashington, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Log-Cradles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to log cradles for transporting logs by water, andhas for one of its objects to provide a cradle that may be. .varied insize so as to adapt it for the carrying of logs in such quantities asmay be desired, and holding them secure against displacement duringtransit.

Another object is to provide a cradle of simple and inexpensiveconstruction. that may be quickly loaded and unloaded.

These objects are attained by a cradle composed of a flexible floatingframe adapted to inclose the logs, and fastening means passing throughthe longitudinal members of the frame and encircling the logs.

In the drawings accompanying herewith I have illustrated my inventionembodied in the form which is now preferred by me, the associated partsbeing represented in a simple form.

Figure 1 is a top view of the cradle as it appears when loaded withlogs, the logs being represented in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectionalView on line @c @c of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing theflexible chain connection betweenl the longitudinal members of thecradle frame. Fig. tis a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but at rightangles thereto. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a part of one of the framemembers, showing the construction used to receive the chains thatencircle the logs when the cradle is loaded. Fig. 6 is a cross sectionof one of the frame members similar to Fig. 5 but at right anglesthereto. Fig. 7 represents a detail view of one of the turnbuckles orbinding devices connected to the free ends of the log-securing chains.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Numeral 1 designates the side members, 2 the inclined ends, and 3 theconnecting end members, the whole forming, when joined as hereinafterdescribed, a cradle of the general outline of a boat that can be easilytowed when loaded; the contiguous or abutting ends of all the logmembers forming Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

serial No. 605,400.

the cradle are provided with vertical openings 4: through which pass theconnecting chf. ins 5, to unite the members securely and permit anaccommodating movement between them, the ends of the chains beingconnected by clevis 6.

The logs forming the side and end members of the cradle are providedwith vertical openings 7 which at their entrance are protected by thewear plates 8; log-securing chains 9 pass through said openings on o-neside of the frame to and through corresponding openings on the oppositeside of the frame; and being suspended from the two sides take the formof letter U during the loading of the cradle; the chains have their freeends engaged in the rings 10, connected to the screws 11 mounted in theopen frame 12, forming a turnbuckle or righthanded and left-handed screwfor tightening the chains upon the logs.

To hold chains 9 in their proper positions while the cradle is beingloaded, hooks or fasteners 9X are provided which are attached to theside members of the cradle near the openings 7 through which chains 9pass.

For the purpose of drawing or towing the cradle when loaded, tow-line 13enters the forward or bow end of the cradle and passes practicallythrough the center of the load longitudinally and the end 11 is securedto connecting member 3 at the stern of the cradle by the screw-bindingloop 15; the other end of the tow-line is looped around connectingmember 3 at the bow end, as shown at 16, leaving the free end 17 to beconnected to a towing-cable.

In operation, the floating cradle frame, with chains passing through thevertical openings 7 in the side and end members of the frame, is securedto a dock or similail structure; the chains are drawn rather taut so asto receive the logs and are held in p0- sition by hooks 9X; the logs arefloated in open water to the cradle and rolled onto the chains. Inassembling the logs in the cradle they are arranged longitudinally sideby side as loaded, breaking joint with each other; some of the layersare shorter than others in order to form tapering ends to the cradlewhen the log-securing chains are tightened. As the loading proceeds thechains are lowered by means of hooks or fasteners 9X until the load ishalf completed, when every alternate chain is passed transversely overthe logs and tightened by means of a turnbuckle. Tow-line 13 is thenlaid crosswise of the log-securing chains and at every point ofintersection the tow-line and chains are securely shackled so as to holdthem firmly together at all times; thereafter, the load is completed inlike manner when all the remaining chains are passed transversely overthe top of the load and tightened upon the logs by means of a turnbuckleas shown. From this it will be seen that one-half of the number of'log-securing chains encircles the lower half of the load, and one-halfencircles the entire load.

The form of cradle and manner of loading as herein shown and describedsecure compactness and stability and distribute the towing strainthroughout the load.

' Without in any manner aifecting the other parts of the cradle ordetracting from its `stability and eiiiciency, the side members 1 may beincreased or decreased in number thereby enabling the shipper to adaptthe cradle to any quantity of logs to be shipped.

The construction of a cradle as herein described enables it to be storedin a very small space when not in use; insures lightness of weight toprovide easy handling while possessing the necessary strength andstability to resist the action of a heavy sea.

What I claim isl. A log cradle comprising an open frame made of jointedsections flexibly united by chains passing through the ends of eachsection, a tow-line connected to the frame, a series of chains carriedby the frame members and adapted to encircle the logs, and turnbucklesattached to the ends of the chains whereby the chains may be tightenedupon the logs, substantially as described.

2. Alog cradle comprising an open frame of jointed sections flexiblyunited by chains.

passing through the ends of' each section, encircling chains set atfrequent intervals and passing' through each section, fastenings forretaining the chains in position, turnbuckles attached to the ends ofthe chains whereby the chains may be tightened upon the logs, and atow-line connected to the frame, substantially as described.

3. A log cradle comprising an open frame of jointed sections flexiblyunited by chains passing' through the ends of each section, a series ofchains carried by the frame members and adapted to encircle the logs,turnbuclrles attached to the ends of the chains whereby the chains maybe tightened upon the logs, and a tow-line flexibly secured to the frameand to each transverse binding' chain it crosses, substantially asdescribed.

4. A log cradle comprising an open frame of jointed sections flexiblyunited by chains passing` through the ends of each section, encirclingchains set at frequent intervals and passing through each section,fastenings for retaining the chains in position, turnbuclles attached tothe ends of the chains whereby the chains may be tightened upon thelogs, and a tow-line fixedly secured to the frame and to each transversebinding chain-it crosses, substantially as described.

5. A log cradle comprising an open frame of jointed sections flexiblyunited by chains passing through the ends of each section, a tow-lineconnected to the frame, a series of chains carried by the frame membersa portion adapted to encircle the lower half of the contents of thecradle and the remaining chains adapted to encircle the entire contentsof the cradle, and turnbuckles attached to the ends of the chainswhereby the chains may be tightened upon the logs, substantially asdescribed.

6. A log cradle comprising an open frame made of jointed sectionsflexibly united by chains passing through the ends of each section,encircling chains set at frequent intervals and passing through eachsection a portion adapted to encircle the lower half of the contents ofthe cradle and the remaining chains adapted to encircle the entirecontents of the cradle, fastenings for retaining the chains in position,turnbuckles attached to the ends of the chains whereby the chains may betightened upon the logs, and a towline connected to the frame,substantially as described.

7. A log cradle comprising an open frame made of jointed sectionsflexibly united by chains passing through the ends of each sectio-n,encircling chains set at frequent intervalsand passing-through eachsection a portion adapted to encircle the lower half of the contents ofthe cradle and the remaining chains adapted to encircle the entirecontents of the cradle, t-urnbuclles attached to the ends of the chainswhereby the chains may be tightened upon thev logs, and a towlinepassing through the center of the load and attached to the centraltransverse chains and the frame, substantially as described.

BERT H. VOLLANS.

l/Vitnesses:

P. E. PADGETT, Sor-IUYLER DURYEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

